Effect of glycaemic control on complications following cardiac surgery: literature review (original) (raw)

The effect of tight glycaemic control, during and after cardiac surgery, on patient mortality and morbidity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 2011

Background: Hyperglycaemia is a common occurrence during cardiac surgery, however, there remains some uncertainty surrounding the role of tight glycaemic control (blood glucose <180 mg/dL) during and/or after surgery. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to determine the effects of tight versus normal glycaemic control, during and after cardiac surgery, on measures of morbidity and mortality. Method: The literature was systematically reviewed, based on pre-determined search criteria, for clinical trials evaluating the effect of tight versus normal glycaemic control during and/or after cardiac surgery. Each paper was reviewed by two, independent reviewers and data extracted for statistical analysis. Data from identified studies was combined using meta-analysis (RevMan5 ® ). The results are presented either as odds ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified in the literature, although not all trials could be used in each analysis. Tight glycaemic control reduced the incidence of early mortality (death in ICU) (OR 0.52 [95% CI 0.30, 0.91]); of post-surgical atrial fibrillation (odds ratio (OR 0.76 [95%CI 0.58, 0.99]); the use of epicardial pacing (OR 0.28 [95%CI 0.15, 0.54]); the duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference (MD) -3.69 [95% CI -3.85, -3.54]) and length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) (MD -0.57 [95%CI -0.60, -0.55]) days.

Perioperative glycemic control and its outcome in patients following open heart surgery

Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia

Background: Diabetes is not uncommon in patients requiring cardiac surgery. These patients have a higher incidence of morbidity and mortality. Subsequently, diabetes represents a major medico-economic problem in both developed and developing countries. This study was designed to observe the association between glycemic control and outcome of patients after open heart surgery in adult population. Materials and Methods: Data was collected retrospectively in all patients who underwent open cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting, valve, or bypass grafting with valve surgery) and survived 72 hours postoperatively and had diabetes. The study was conducted from January 2015 to December 2016. Results: Of the 129 patients included in the study, male dominated 101 (78.3%). Most frequent surgery was coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) 123 (95.3%), CABG plus aortic valve replacement 4 (3.1%), and CABG plus mitral valve replacement 2 (1.6%). Considering diabetes, only 3 (2.3%) were on diet control, 112 (86.8%) on oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA), whereas 9 (7%) had control on both insulin and OHA. Only 5 (3.9%) had type I diabetes. The mean fasting blood sugar (FBS) was 154.58 g/dl, and the mean duration of diabetic mellitus was observed 12.32 years. Microvascular and macrovascular complications were 26/129 (20.16%) and 17/129 (13.17%), respectively. Total 75 (58.1%) patients did not require insulin and 54 (41.9%) were treated with insulin intraoperatively to keep the blood glucose level less than 200 g/dl. Cardiac arrhythmias were frequent in the insulin group (P < 0.05), which was also associated with increased stay in the cardiac intensive care unit. Conclusion: Inadequate glycemic control during open cardiac surgery can possibly lead to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality and with decreased long-term survival and recurrent ischemic events. Therefore, aiming for blood glucose levels around 140 mg/dl appears reasonable. Further studies are required to define specific glucose ranges for a clearer definition of recommended blood glucose goals in postoperative cardiac patients for the best outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Glycaemic control strategies in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing elective surgery

Metabolism and Target Organ Damage, 2022

People with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergo more elective surgery than those without DM; however, up to half of the patients are undiagnosed when referred for surgery. This is an opportunity to intervene and instigate a management plan. Preoperative strategies may vary based on coexisting medical diseases such as obesity and the availability of resources with the aim of achieving glycaemic control while also treating coexisting conditions. In the context of obesity, there is substantial overlap in some of the treatment strategies. Guidelines, such as those from the UK Centre for Perioperative Medicine, suggest target glycated haemoglobin levels, preoperative fasting blood glucose levels, and when to defer an elective operation or instigate treatment to proceed if deemed safe. Preoperatively glycaemic control is often achieved pharmacologically, and newer agents, including glucagon-like peptide one receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, are emphasised in the preoperative management of diabetes mellitus, particularly if obesity is also present. A very low-energy diet is an underutilised but well-evidenced method of achieving both glycaemic control and weight loss with a particularly dominant effect on liver fat which is helpful for people who are due to undergo abdominal surgery. Bariatric-metabolic procedures are of growing interest as bridging interventions to surgery and are more commonly used for obesity, but they also have a well-recognized impact on the improvement and remission of DM. This review gives an overview of the necessity of preoperative identification of DM and strategies for management. Intra-operative glycaemic control is also discussed, and the role of stress hyperglycaemia perioperatively.

Glycemic Control in Cardiac Surgery

Perioperative Considerations in Cardiac Surgery, 2012

the full standard care as a mean of reducing infections and further complications, and in consequence, the patient's improvement. This chapter reviews the mechanisms of stress hyperglycemia, the evidence of the association between hyperglycemia and adverse outcomes in surgical patients particularly in cardiac surgery. Besides, it offers a general overview about discordant reports found in the literature on the strict glycemic control during the peri-operative period of a cardiac surgery. In addition to, it also recommends common approaches to control the glycemia in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and post-surgical cardiovascular patients based on the best performed randomized controlled trials.

The influence of pre-admission hypoglycaemic therapy on cardiac morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study*

Anaesthesia, 2012

It remains unclear whether type 2 diabetics treated with either insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents have the same incidence of cardiac morbidity and mortality after major non-cardiac surgery. We prospectively studied 360 type 2 diabetic patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery of which 105 were treated with insulin only, 171 were treated with oral hypoglycaemics only and 84 were treated with a combination of insulin and oral hypoglycaemics. All-cause mortality after 30 days and after 12 months was highest in the insulin (10% and 26%) and lowest in the oral hypoglycaemics group (2% and 13%; p = 0.02 and 0.007, respectively). Insulin treatment was independently associated with increased mortality after 30 days (hazard ratio 3.93; 95% CI 1.22-12.64; p = 0.022) and 12 months (hazard ratio 2.03; 95% CI 1.16-3.58; p = 0.014) after multivariate adjustment for age, sex and the revised cardiac risk index (insulin treatment excluded). The increased mortality in insulin-treated diabetic patients may be due to a more progressive disease state in these patients rather than the treatment modality itself.

Postoperative hyperglycaemia of diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery - a clinical audit

Nursing in Critical Care, 2009

Background: Previous studies have shown that hyperglycaemia is associated with postoperative complications in cardiac surgical patients. Conversely, well-controlled glucose levels are said to reduce major infectious complications in diabetic patients.Aim/Objectives: The purpose of this clinical audit was to evaluate the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery and to determine the effectiveness of postoperative glycaemic control.Methods: A group of 150 patients from a large Irish cardiac surgery centre was selected by convenience sampling. An audit tool was designed to capture the patients' blood glucose levels, treatment regimes and postoperative complications.Findings: The findings showed major variations between ‘high’, ‘good’ and ‘borderline’ blood glucose levels in the pre- and postoperative phase. Although blood glucose testing practices seemed inconsistent, mean levels measured ‘borderline’. Furthermore, the treatment regimes varied greatly and suggest a lack of consensus regarding the management of postoperative hyperglycaemia. A total of 52% (n = 78) patients developed 114 complications with a level of 21·4% (n = 32) postoperative wound infections.Conclusion: The findings from this audit highlight the importance of regular blood glucose testing to enable early detection of hyperglycaemia and timely initiation of appropriate treatments regimes for diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Findings also show that hyperglycaemia derangement may make a difference in the recovery phase. While patients will benefit from lesser wound infections, hospitals might save costs involved with treating postoperative complications.Relevance to practice: More consistent blood glucose testing might be achieved through the use of evidence-based protocols. However, the education of staff is as important as it develops knowledge on the complex metabolic interactions of diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery. While this means investing in staff education and policy development, costs for daily care and expensive treatments for complications will be saved as patient recovery will be speedier and less eventful.